WAGAH BORDER CEREMONY

[thebrownguy]

Happens twice , at flag hoisting and lowering time,
The term is beat the retreat, i witnessed it during the 2002 stand off, the atmosphere is mind blowing, in fact a couple of times soldiers from both sides ended up in a fist fight.

Dis you witness the fist fight too?!!!

 

[Windjammer]

Dis you witness the fist fight too?!!!

No, i missed that fun bit but the drama was splashed all over the papers.
Apparently it all started with the flag hoisting rope.

 

[courageneverdies]

To me its something that keeps the morale high. Atleast they openly show what they really think, unlike our hypocrate, lier, good for nothing politicians who shake one hand and attack with the other.

This nautanki, drama, rather malo-drama or clownish act whatever you say but it really is something we share, both Pakistan and India and we must be proud of this "Uniqueness."

I love it. Have seen it more than a dozen times.

KIT Over

 

[fawwaxs]

 

[fawwaxs]

---------- Post added at 07:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 AM ----------

 

[RobbieS]

The ceremony is ok. But what I found stupid was the jingoistic slogans raised during and before the ceremony. There's actually a guy on the Indian side with microphone, urging the crowds to shout out patriotic slogans and drown out the other side. And people, women in particular dance in the center to the tune of patriotic songs. Its weird. Its more of a game of up-manship than any true nationalistic fervor.

And not many of you would know, but a similar ceremony happens at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur. Very close to the Samadhis of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Its the exact same ceremony, exact same flag lowering and other things. The only difference is that there is no jingoistic music or sloganeering and very few people. A simple ceremony without any loud songs and dancing people. While Wagah invariably leaves people with a heightened sense of patriotism and even chauvinism, Hussainiwala is a much more humbling expereince. Its a sobering effect that leads one to think that we could have done without all this. And each time I have gazed across the other side into Pakistan, I have seen people just like me, curiously looking at the ceremony unfolding in the middle. They seem to be just that, normal average people. Whereas in Wagah, you can hardly ever see the people on the other side, but just hear the slogans. And this invariable leaves you with antagonistic feelings. Feelings that both nations could easily avoid.

 

[RobbieS]

Pakistani Border Guards are More Aggressive and Give Angry Looks Than the Indian Guards

Also on Pakistan Side of Wagah Border there are No proper Seating Arrangements For the Ppl..!!!

Grow up kid. You dont need to flame. Post reported.

 

[Bhim]

It is a money making exercise by both the Security forces, I think there are tickets for the event? See how well it is rehearsed and synchronized, any way good entertainment. I hope they change the postures every now and then to make it more attractive..

From BBC eyes--
Need approval from Ministry of Silly walks to be a guard at the Wagah border..LOL

 

[RobbieS]

It is a money making exercise by both the Security forces, I think there are tickets for the event? See how well it is rehearsed and synchronized, any way good entertainment. I hope they change the postures every now and then to make it more attractive..

Its very well-rehearsed and they probably practice amongst their own teams to perfect it.

But I take it you have never been to Wagah. There's no ticket. Its absolutely free.

 

[Devil Soul]

no one can deny the fact that it has turned into a tourist attraction

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Originally Posted by Muhammad Yahya
"Is it really needed?????
Pretty Ridiculous"

Friend, you said it !

Originally Posted by thebrownguy
"Not good for their kneecaps too, so much stamping and stomping."

i'm willing to bet there are many orthopaedic specialists in the Wagah-Attari area, all specialising in knee-arthroscopy !

Originally Posted by Imran Khan
"NO BORDER IN WORLD HAS LIKE THIS TAMASHA."

Imran bhai, it may surprise you- there is one other place (many thousand miles away) in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) in Korea where something like this takes place with slightly less 'strutting and preening' and without any 'chawwani ticket tamashbeens'. So we are not alone in foolishness ! You are so right, we are advanced in hate.

But there is another scene that i saw on TV at the same place. That was when the Commonwealth Games torch was brought by Pakistani schoolchildren and handed to Indian schoolchildren to the accompaniment of songs by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and the Wadali Brothers. i saw those bright innocent faces (masoom chehre) and 'momentarily' thought if any of them would fall a victim to some stupid person carrying a gun or a bomb; and the thought terrified me, the thought passed, but it still scares me.
The picture of the schoolchildren is the one that i want to carry to my death, not the one shown in the video !

 

[Devil Soul]

The picture of the schoolchildren is the one that i want to carry to my death, not the one shown in the video !

Relax man he wont haunt u in yo dreams...

 

[ice_man]

guys no one realizes ONE MAJOR thing here both sides REHEARSE together for it!!! so yes all that we see synchronized TOGETHER!!! pretty cool i think and keeps the morale high on both sides plus gives the POOR man something to watch!!! source of entertainment modern day ROMAN ARENA!

and the best part our forces interact with each other and work jointly atleast on something!!

 

[welcome]

most ridiculous thing. They should stop this circus.

why to stop this....i think Wagah border ceremony is now become tourism place rather than international border.people from across the world come here to see it. i think wagah border ceremony is only good think which arise from Indo-pak dispute...

 

[dabong1]

We need to have just kids doing this show on the border

Gotta give repesct to the indian officer at 1.14.